Sun Safety Tips for Summer and Beyond

Longer days, warm evenings, colorful gardens, and beautiful sunsets are just a few of the sun’s gifts each summer. Before you head to the neighborhood pool, schedule a park playdate, or gather your friends for a cookout, let’s make sure you’re practicing sun safety so you can enjoy your time outside all summer and year-round.  

What is sun safety?

While the sun is essential to life on earth, its powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause long-term damage to our skin and vision. Sun safety includes practices that protect us from ultraviolet light. Two types of UV rays are known for their ability to harm skin: UVA and UVB. Both damage our cells, which can lead to skin cancer. This damage occurs over time, so it’s important to start sun protection habits at an early age. Fortunately, skin cancer and other sun-related conditions are preventable. 

Who needs to practice sun safety?

• Everyone, especially people with a medical history of skin cancers.
• People of all skin tones – while melanin (pigment in skin) offers some protection from UV light, it is not enough to prevent sun damage and skin cancer.
• Babies and older adults are particularly vulnerable to sun damage. Keep babies shielded from sun exposure until they are at least 6 months old.
• Some medications and health conditions can make skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Family sun safety tips

1. Practice sun protection every day

It’s easy to remember sun protection during the summer when we’re outside in the heat, especially if we expose more skin in shorts and bathing suits to keep cool. But UV rays still reach our skin during autumn, winter, and spring – on rainy and cloudy days, too! 

Make sun protection part of your daily routine if you go outside or spend time indoors near a window. While our bodies make necessary vitamin D in response to sunlight, sunscreen does not block UV light entirely. The body will still be able to make vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones, muscles, and more.

2. Use multiple forms of sun protection at the same time

Practice multiple forms of sun safety, especially wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. See how many of these options work for you: 

• Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
• Wide-brimmed hats 
• UV-filter sunglasses 
• UPF (UV Protection Factor) protective clothing or rash guards 
• Window screens for home and car
• Umbrellas, covered strollers, and awnings
• Shade provided by trees and buildings
• Makeup products containing SPF ingredients when applied correctly and/or layered with other sun protection

3. Find sunscreen you like to wear

The best sunscreen for your family is any sunscreen that’s comfortable to wear and easy to apply. You may have heard of mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens. Both have their own unique characteristics:

• Mineral sunscreens formulated with zinc or titanium oxide are recommended for sensitive and babies’ skin, but they can leave a white cast to a wide range of skin tones.
• Chemical sunscreens formulated with non-mineral filters are available in many textures and are easier to blend; look for fragrance-free and non-aerosol options if you have sensitive skin.
• While there is concern that some active ingredients in chemical sunscreens (such as oxybenzone) can cause skin sensitivity and mimic our bodies’ natural hormones, more research is still needed to determine these risks. Any sunscreen is safer than no sunscreen.
• To save money, consider generic products. They undergo the same safety and efficacy tests that brand name sunscreens do. Do not try to make sunscreen at home.

4. Wear enough sunscreen and reapply

When it comes to applying sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends adults and children 6 months and older apply approximately 1 ounce of broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to cover their body and face. That includes sunscreen lotions, creams, sprays, powders, and sticks. For infants under 6 months of age, sunscreen can be used on small areas of their bodies if they are unable to be kept completely protected by shade or clothing.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours while outdoors and after you have been in water or sweating. Opt for water-resistant products when you can. No sunscreen is truly waterproof – each product’s packaging will state how many minutes it can stay effective in water (as long as you do not scrub or wipe it away).

5. Be aware of reflective and transparent surfaces

Water, sand, snow, concrete, glass, healthy grass, and artificial turf can all reflect UV rays. That means if you’re out on the water or on a light concrete sidewalk, those rays can get under a hat or sun umbrella. UVA rays can also penetrate glass, which is how indoor plants stay alive. Using multiple forms of sun protection can help you and your family protect your skin from any angle.

6. Don’t forget your hands, feet, ears, and lips!

When you’re heading outside, your hands, feet, ears, and lips need protection too! In fact, if you’re swimming or hanging out in soft grass, chances are you are not wearing gloves, shoes, or a mask. So, slather on that sunscreen. Inexpensive lip balm with SPF is fairly easy to find wherever you buy sunscreen.

7. Avoid the harshest rays of the day

The sun’s rays are at their strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. They are especially strong in places near the equator and at high elevations. Plan your outdoor activities in the early mornings and evenings when you can. If you do need to be outside during this time of day, take extra precautions.  

8. Protect your eyes

Did you know that sunlight can help us sleep better by letting the light-sensitive cells in our eyes develop healthy patterns? It’s true! But too much of a good thing can be just that – too much. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or UV-filter sunglasses and visors to shield your eyes from retina and skin damage (yes, eyes have skin too). And avoid looking directly at a solar eclipse without ISO 12312-2 international standard glasses to prevent permanent vision damage.   

9. Wear tightly woven cotton coverups

When it’s hot outside, it’s tempting to choose loosely woven or sheer clothing for comfort. But if you’re trying to protect yourself from UV rays, wear tightly woven fabrics instead, like light-colored cotton denim. Some clothing brands include their sun protection information. Look for fabrics that have high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). 

10. Practice after-sun care

Even when you protect your skin, spending time in the sun – especially in heat – can take its toll on your body. After time outside, try these tips:

• Drink plenty of water during and after your time in the sun. Snacks with naturally occurring electrolytes can help you stay hydrated. Enjoy watermelon, bananas, yogurt, beans, and coconut water. 
• Rest in the shade or indoors so your skin can take a break and you can cool off (or warm up). 
• Apply aloe vera gel to sunburns. When you’re running through sprinklers, swimming, or sweating, it’s easy to miss your sunscreen reapplication. Help sunburns heal with cool aloe vera gel, and seek medical attention if sunburns are blistering, painful, or accompanied by a fever.

We hope you enjoy a safe and healthy summer with plenty of opportunities to get outdoors.